workets of America, and negoriate a new contract with their The strike, which took place in 1973-74, Involved a challenge by rank and file miners to the gangster-lype union leaderstup We see the apc-old tactics of the coal-owners, propaganda lie that "the unions ate all controlled by commun , to the unbridled use of whom they Knocked about, shot ar killed "Let's go and play with them a little, says the leader of the thags as they set out in cars armed with guns and sticks to do the bosses" dirty work. To means beating up and shooting miners.
le in legal for the thugs co carry EUBS, illegal for miners... To call a scab a scab is not nilowed and, according to the film, to do so could mean winding up behind bans.
I wonder if these atitudes have since been challenged and to what effect.
There is much that one could say about this truly magnilicent documentary, directed Barbara Kopple. power to make you feel int one - to despise the bosses and hate their hire Laughter comes and so do the tears, especially when we Icar in a very moving scene of the murder on the picket line of a young miner whase death made a widow af bis 16-ycardissatistied. It did not go far coough, should marched on the machoe guns Insread of marching around the mented one miner on the settlePersonaly, much anore was needed.
Although everyone involved knew the answer posed in onc of the film's many good mining system and what'sto be dobe in order to end it.
The film destroys the Ameri can myth of their wonderful and how. dealing with the working class, that freedom is upheld in law and applied by boor, stick, and It also contrasts as clearly as the a film can the beauty of the workers in unity and the ughiness of the capitalist system.
It reminded me of the words of a young South revolutionary, quoled in Arlery Who tires The miner and pays him with by Sec tbe film. and you'l Harlan County USA & showing st the newis-opened Scala cinema. 25 Totenham Street, London W1 (where formerly lived The Other Cinema]. The film & available for hire, Other Cinema Distribution, tel. 01-734 8508.
THE The capitalist when Socialist African from The The overull reaction to tbe paper was positive. Even its harshest critics such as Richard Kirkwood and Richard Kupe Tale had been audience, sciousness of advanced work ers, how we should wiite, was continued at the conterence In the allernoon session, the conference brose shops lo discust the different sections of the paper, these workshops members the Editorial Board goc the fiest ever foodback from the paper's most committed supporters. emerged. Conrade outside wanted more regional tieetings with members of the Editorial Board present so that there could be a The exchanges on racism, on sexual politics, on Ireland and an trade union mational coverage sam a whole
CONFERENCE of Socialist
supporters a fortnight ago was a modest but important step Torward. One hundred and fifty delegates from Supporters Groups, IMG branches, the International Socialist Alliance and Big Flame braved the summer sunshine and spent a day in intense discussion.
There were, in additon, two observers present from Review the theoretical launched by the Socialist Workers" Party.
positive. The the рарет's the level of con groups.
Jato work Within toe for the paper.
residers and Similar problem large ünously regular its leading and interChallenge rades, journal recently Challenge present penou BLANCO those number of new idear beng raised and discussed. For the Editorial Board members it was a refreshing experience, for the criticism was constructive, even at its sharpest, Many comrades felt the need for more reports in he paper on the activities o incialist Chullenge supporser By far the mos important desclopment was the clection ide to the papel Contene unanimously elected 21 com rades to meet regularly and determine the overali orienta tion of the paper. Resolution: on the future direction of the majorities, Our Lamamon around Was Ian apreed to be the political basis of the poper In addition the ISA Steerin Committee nominated three o comrades to br represented on the NPC In th 10 places set aside for polirical were TOMEILLE represent local sup porter Bi Flame representatives thai an observet's place be kept ALELO LOCI The overall balance sheet of the conference is theretore a ositive one. The new NPC will be meeting in London on 10 June Is agenda will include forthcoming Socialist Trades Conferetec in Birmingham on to take the paper's asowed aim forward in the What also eierged from the conference was a clear feeling that the crcation of the paper's Supporter's Groups must be prioritised so that the paper a readers can play some part in the campaigns and projects defended in the pages Socialist Challenge.
Conference pased шавImousty two resolutions fron the Editorial Beard beyond already reported in Socialist Challenge. The first was to send a telegram to the Peruvian Governatent against the state of emergency in that and apainst the deporation to Argentina 9 Hugo Blance and others Supporters niso condernec attacks by the state on the lefi and alernative press, includins Republican News, Peace News. The Leveller, and Gay News. I sommitted the paper to support comrades listed abou avuilable from 22 VICARS ROAD, LONDON N.W.5 Tel: 01-267 6722 bock in WH Smith.
Leni Solinger a Sheffield also moved amend menos to the Editorial Boerd resplution. argued the campaigns and activity prioritised by include the fight against cuts in women's support for independent rank Fand file groupings in the These were all accepted by the Editorial Board and by conference, and will be more fully discussed at the Nationa Policy Commitlee.
Members Nutional Policy Committee Inchude places political tendenciesi From the Carver, Geoff Bell, LIT Richard Brian Steven Marks. Martin Shaw.
Beber mesabers: Georg Kerevan (Edinburgh, IMG): Pal Ward (Crawley IMG): [Francis Mathern (Camden, independent: Alan Soskin (S London, ISA): Pat Hickey (Birmingham, IMG); Tberes Conway (Manchester, EMIG):
Ros Oliver (Cardict IMG)
Leal Solinger (Sheffield, ISA)
Jude Woodward (W London IMG): Martin O'Lears (Clas goW, IMG).
All members of the Jornalistic tati wil attend the mestings, as well as thas SOCIALIST CHALLENGE June 1978ред015.2
CYRIL MARGOLIS, the boss of the Garners Steak Socialist Challenge door to tell the pickets that i
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